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FREE Public Education… But Please Donate at Roosevelt

POWER Academy at Roosevelt had $24,962 in Title I funds remaining at the end of the 2008/09 school year. So imagine my surprise when reviewing their 2009/10 Course Guide and I read:

Under Oregon law, students cannot be required to pay a fee for classes that are part of the regular school program. However, in some instances, you may be asked to make a contribution for certain classes where additional learning materials enable the school to expand and enrich those classes. Certain science lab expenses and art class supplies are examples of classes where your contribution can make a difference in the quality of the class. You are not required to pay the requested contribution in order to enroll in the class. POWER Academy is only able to offer these enhanced learning opportunities for students because of your support and contributions. We appreciate your commitment to our instructional program and

Roosevelt is 81% free and reduced lunch but Lincoln is only 10% free/reduced. Why does Roosevelt ask for donations but Lincoln does not? Why doesn’t Roosevelt use their Title I money to fund the programs?

6 Responses

“Under Oregon law, students cannot be required to pay a fee for classes that are part of the
regular school program. However, in some instances you may be asked to make a contribution
for certain classes where additional learning materials enable the school to expand and enrich
those classes. Certain science lab expenses and art class supplies are examples of classes
where your contribution can make a difference in the quality of the class. You are not required
to pay the requested contribution in order to enroll in the class. Lincoln High School is only
able to offer these enhanced learning opportunities for students because of your support and
contributions. We appreciate your commitment to our instructional program and the success of
our students.
In some instances, Oregon law does allow school districts to charge a required fee or deposit.
For instance, fees can be required for optional field trips, extracurricular activities, the use of
musical instruments, gym clothes when the student does not furnish their own, and other non-
instructional expenses. The school may also require a deposit for a lock or locker. The Student
Fee and Contribution Form will provide you with more information about specific fees and
contribution options for Lincoln High School.”

mom, you’re correct. Their 2010-2011 course guide includes that statement. When searching for their course guide I looked for the 09/10 which doesn’t appear anywhere. I’ll assume that the Lincoln fee statements are the same this year and next year.

I’d still argue that students are not paying for the same quality of programs.

Also, the question about Title remains. With a student population of 209, POWER could have contributed $119 for every student in the school.

Can anyone tell me what Title I can be used for? I’ve looked it up, and it looks like it can be used for Parental Involvement, curriculum materials, Professional Dev., etc. Why, then, did I have to beg for books? And why am I still being told we cannot afford an up-to-date (without USSR please) pull-dow wall map?
Am I missing something?

S. Wilcox, I’m always disappointed to hear that teachers don’t know how Title I funds can be used or how they are used in their schools. The funds should be supporting teachers.

In my view, the funds have the potential to make a huge difference for poor children but the district has mismanaged them for years. That’s why I continue to raise the issue and do not believe that the purpose behind the high school redesign is to improve the program for students living in poverty.

There are two types of Title I programs (schoolwide and targeted assistance). Almost all PPS Title I schools are schoolwide. That gives the school more flexibility in how they spend their Title I funds but there are some restrictions.

Title 1 funds can be used to improve curriculum, instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, increase staff and program improvement. Title I covers FTE, supplemental services, professional development, and transportation.

One Title I restriction is around supplanting vs. supplementing. I think the district plays with that rule. Here’s what the law says about the rule:

“An LEA (school district) may use Title I funds only to supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the level of funds that would, in the absence of Title I funds, be made available from non-Federal sources for the education of students participating in Title I programs. In no case may Title I funds be used to supplant–i.e., take the place of–funds from non-Federal sources. To meet this requirement, an LEA is not required to provide Title I services using a particular instructional method or in a particular instructional setting.”

Is the district supplanting in the K-8 models? It seems like individual schools are having to use additional resources to compensate for the new model.

Follow this link to the bottom of the page where it says “Title I, Part A Recovery Funds for Grants to Local Educational Agencies”, then select the Use of Funds Guidance from September 2009″ to see how districts can use ARRA funds:

Ok, rag on Roosevelt all you will, but Steve Duin’s commentary in the O yesterday was fabulous. He talks about what the role of the school should really be, and because some schools have to be mom, dad, babysitter, etc. they are said to be failing when they cannot measure up. One of his best articles ever. Especially in light of the fact that Roosevelt is up for either closure, reconstitution, or charter school if they accept Obama’s money. How sad that we’ve come to this.